(3) K-3 Illustrated by John Thompson & John Thompson. Occasionally onomatopoeic lines tell of a young girl's train ride from her Midwestern farm community to visit her grandmother in the city. Authentic details enrich the narrative, whose tension concerns a snowstorm that blocks the rails and the camaraderie that develops in the car until a snowplow arrives. Detailed, richly colored illustrations support the text and extend its mood.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by John Thompson. These poems praise thirteen well-known African Americans, including Arthur Ashe, Sojourner Truth, and Langston Hughes, for their contributions to sports, civil rights, and the arts. While the sincerity of the tributes is never in doubt, the verses are uneven and sometimes awkward. Thompson's portraits capture dramatic aspects of each personality. The appended biographical notes extend the poetic sketches.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by John Thompson. The Thanksgiving after Amanda's grandmother dies is a difficult one for everyone because she was at the heart of their holiday celebration. Old traditions are joined by new ones when the family attempts to re-create all of Bubbe's recipes and new friends help them cope. The feeling of warmth generated by this family story is captured by the richly done realistic paintings.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman